Psychiatrist in Pune , Dr Neville Misquitta (MD Psychiatry). This is a psychiatrists take on Pune occurrences. Mental health issues reflect underlying universal problems that keep some of us from a meaningful life. At Pathfinder Clinic we make the link.

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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Bullying by children in schools has serious mental health effects on the victim and the bully. Up to 25% of high school students report being victimised by bullies. 13% of victims have considered suicide. In rural India 31% of middle school students report being bullied (Kshirsagar 2007). Bullying is twice more prevalent in coeducational schools than in girl schools. The prevalence of bullying increases from 13% in the 3rd grade to 46% in the 6th grade. Bullying is higher in classes with more retained students.

Bullying occurs in a variety of settings that are an extension of your child's school life. Bullying can occur face to face, by texting or on the web (cyberbullying). Bullying is not a phase of growing up, it is not a joke, and it is not a sign that boys are being boys. Bullying can cause lasting harm - to the victim, the bully and the bully-victim (children who are bullied and also bully other children).

Bullying takes many forms

Verbal: Name calling, teasing

Social : Spreading rumours, leaving people out of groups on purpose, breaking up friendships

Physical : Hitting, punching, shoving (5% in Indian schools)

Cyberbullying

When is it bullying? It’s bullying when there are three features to the interaction

Imbalance of power: People who bully use their power to control or harm. The victims may have a hard time defending themselves.

Intent to cause harm: The person bullying intends to harm the victim

Repetition: Incidents happen to the same person over and over by the same person or group

It’s not bullying when there are

Mutual arguments and disagreements

Single episodes of social rejection or dislike

Single episode acts of nastiness or spite

Random acts of aggression or intimidation

Effects of bullying

(www.stopbullying.gov)Those who are victimsare at a high risk for mental health problems

Higher risk of depression and anxiety with increased thoughts of suicide

More likely to have health complaints

Have decreased academic achievement

More likely to miss or drop out of school

More likely to retaliate (12/15 shooters have a history of being bullied)

Bullies are more likely to manifest behaivour problems that continue into adulthood when these behaviours manifest as criminality

Higher rates of alcohol/substance abuse

More likely to get into fights, vandalise property

More likely to be abusive towards partners, spouses or children later in life.

Bully-victims are the worst affected. They develop both mental health and behavioural problems

Is your child being bullied?

If your child has any of these features it is very likely they are being bullied in school

Comes home with torn clothing or missing belongings

Appears sad, moody, depressed or anxious especially on returning home from school

Prefers to be alone

These symptoms are also likely in victims of bullying

Is afraid of going to school

Vomiting

Sleep disturbances including insomnia and nightmares

These symptoms are commonest in victims

Frequently falling sick

Headaches

Bodyache is the next most common symptom in female victims. In male victims nightmares are the next most common.

Is your child a bully? Consider these common traits of bullies

Become violent with others, gets into physical or verbal fights

Get sent to the Principal’s office often

Has extra money or new belongings which cannot be explained

Will not accept responsibility for their actions

Need to win and be best at everything

Do’s and Don’ts

For parents whose children are victims of bullying (Carr-Gregg 2011)Do NOT

Tell the your child to ignore the bullying. This allows the bullying and its impact to become more serious

Blame your child or assume that they have done something to provoke the bullying

Encourage retaliation

Criticise how your child dealt with the bullying

Contact the bully or parents of the bully

Do

Communicate with your child

Listen carefully. Ask who was involved and what was involved in each episode

Empathise and reinforce that you are glad your child has disclosed this

Ask your child what they think can be done to help

Reassure your child that you will take sensible action

Contact the teacher and/or principal and take a cooperative approach in finding a solution

Discuss the matter in a face-to-face meeting. Stay calm. Take along any evidence you may have gathered. Ask three key questions

How will this matter be investigated?

How long will this investigation take?

When will you get a follow up meeting to discuss the results?

Contact school authorities if bullying persists and escalate your communications up the chain of command. Here’s where your paper trail comes in useful